Issa Traore: Bayer Leverkusen send Mali defender on loan to AS Trencin

Mali centre-back Issa Traore has joined AS Trencin on loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the 2026-27 season in a completed deal between the Bundesliga club and the Slovak Nike Liga side.

The 18-year-old defender moves to Trencin with a loan transfer formally agreed on 6 July 2026. The arrangement includes a scheduled return to Leverkusen on 30 June 2027 at the end of the loan period.

Traore, who stands at 1.94m, is primarily a centre-back and is listed with a market value of 800,000. That valuation has been maintained across his recent spells with both Djoliba AC in Mali and Leverkusen, underlining his status as a highly regarded young defender.

The Mali international prospect only joined Leverkusen earlier in 2026, moving to the Bundesliga side from Djoliba AC on 1 January ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Before his step up to Djoliba, he had been on the books of Lakika FC in his home country.

His switch to Trencin represents Traores first move into the Slovak top flight, adding a new league to a career that has already taken him from domestic Malian football to one of Germanys leading clubs by the age of 18.

Traore is now registered with AS Trencin for the 2026-27 season, with his loan agreement due to conclude with a return to Bayer Leverkusen in June 2027.